Mechanical splcie protective sleeve for securing a splice area formed by splicing a plural of optical fibers

ABSTRACT

A fiber optic connector is spliced to an optical fiber provided by a sheathed optical fiber and an optical fiber pigtail. The connector houses a protective sleeve that secures the splice area from damage due to movement of optical fibers during connecter use. The protective sleeve retains the sheathed optical fiber at a first end and secures the protective sleeve to a distal end of a ferrule flange assembly at a second end.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application 62/744,245filed on Oct. 11, 2018, titled “Protective Assembly for Splicing OpticStrands”, which is fully incorporated by reference into thisapplication.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fiber optic connectors, and moreparticularly, to a protective housing to hold one or more splicedoptical fibers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern high capacity optical systems often utilize fiber opticconnectors for inter-system connection. As there are multiple connectionpoints in an optical path, and a spring is typically required to biasforward a ferrule assembly, there is a need to simplify assembly of thefiber optic strands when splicing or connecting a fiber optic connectorpigtail or short fiber to an optical fiber from a fiber optic cable orto another fiber optic connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a fiber optic connector comprises aferrule flange assembly formed by a ferrule, a ferrule locking flange,an inner flange and a flange retention stub. The ferrule flange assemblyis locked within a fiber optic connector housing. The ferrule has anoptical fiber along a longitudinal axis of the fiber optic connectionwith an optical fiber pigtail extending beyond a distal end of theflange retention stub. The inner flange and the flange retention stubform a circumferential guide opening that receives a retention flange ata second end of the protective sleeve. The second end of the protectivesleeve is secured about the flange retention stub. A second opticalfiber from a sheathed optical fiber is spliced to the optical fiberpigtail, and the spliced section or area is secured within a portion ofthe longitudinal channel formed within the protective sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail hereinafterwith reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled connector assemblydeploying the splice-on protective tube of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric of select internal components of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the splice-on protective tube;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ferrule flange assembly to securethe protective tube;

FIG. 7A is a back side perspective view of the splice-on protectivetube;

FIG. 7B is a front side perspective view of the splice-on protectivetube; and

FIG. 8A-8C depicts the steps of using the splice-on protective tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description describes protecting splice points forsplicing two fiber optic connectors together, or a fiber optic cable anda fiber optic connector together to form a network of optical devices.Splicing is performed in the factory called factory terminated connectoror in the field, called field terminated connector. In the field can bein an office building. It will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat modifications, including additions and/or substitutions may be madewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Specificdetails may be omitted so as not to obscure the invention; however, thedisclosure is written to enable one skilled in the art to practice theteachings herein without undue experimentation.

FIG. 1 depicts first fiber optic connector 10 spliced to second fiberoptic connector 20. Second fiber optic connector 20 deploys splice-onprotective sleeve 40 (at FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B). First fiber opticconnector 10 can use the splice-on protective sleeve without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Sheathed optical fiber 30 provides asecond optical fiber that is spliced to an optical fiber pigtail 33provided at a distal end of ferrule 12 (FIG. 4).

FIG. 2 depicts the second connector boot 21 and crimp tube assembly 22with sheathed optical fiber 30 extending from a proximal end of thesecond connector. The sheathed optical fiber is secured within retentioncollar 48 at first end “FE” of protective sleeve 40 (also at FIG. 7B).Inner housing 24 of the second connector accepts ferrule flange assembly11 (at FIG. 4). The distal end of the ferrule flange assembly accepts aproximal end or second end “SE” of protective sleeve 40 (also at FIG.7A).

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-section of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 describes an assembledfirst connector 10 and second connector 20 deploying protective sleeve40. In this embodiment, protective sleeve 40 is deployed in the firstconnector as opposed to protective sleeve 40 deployed in the firstconnector (at FIG. 2). Referring to FIG. 3, ferrule flange assembly 11secures protective sleeve 40 at a distal end of ferrule flange assembly11. Ferrule 12 is secured at a proximal end of ferrule flange assembly11. Ferrule flange assembly 11 is secured with the first connectorhousing 10 a at a proximal end. Splice section or splice area 32 issecured within longitudinal channel 45 (at FIG. 7B). Optical fiber 31formed as part the sheathed optical fiber enters boot 25 of secondconnector 20. Optical pigtail is about 2 mm long.

FIG. 4 depicts protective sleeve 40 secured to ferrule flange assembly11. Splice area 32 is secured within the channel of the protectivesleeve. Splicing is done between the optical fiber of the sheathedoptical fiber and optical fiber pigtail 33. Sheathed optical fiber 30 issecured within retention collar 48 to reduce movement due connector useat the splice points within splice area 32. Ferrule flange assembly 11has ferrule locking flange 13 which secures the ferrule flange assemblyand the protective tube at the proximal end of first connector 10housing 10 a, as shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 4, inner flange 13 bis formed from outer flange 13 a, and inner flange 13 b is concentricwith flange retention stub 13 c forming circumferential guide opening 13e (at FIG. 6).

FIG. 5 depicts a bias spring 23 about a distal end of ferrule flangeassembly 11 and a proximal end of proximal sleeve 40. Bias spring 23pushes forward ferrule flange assembly 11 when secured with a connectorhousing, to ensure ferrule 12 can make an optical communication pathwith another ferrule. Protective sleeve 40 can be rotated in directionof arrow “R” about longitudinal axis L-L′.

FIG. 6 depicts ferrule flange assembly 11. Along assembly 11longitudinal axis L-L′, at a distal end of assembly 11, flange retentionstub 13 c has recess 13 d that accepts locking tab 44 (at FIG. 7B). Theproximal end of protective sleeve 40 is inserted into circumferentialguide opening 13 e until inner stop face 43 (at FIG. 7B), engages thedistal end of flange retention stub 13 c.

FIG. 7A depicts protective sleeve 40 showing chamfered guide surface 46at a second end “SE” or proximal end of the protective sleeve. Guidesurface 46 ensures upon mating protective sleeve 40 with guide opening13 e, insertion of sleeve 40 allows for the complete insertion of sleeve40 within opening 13 e until face 43 engages stub 13 c and does not jamor twist. Once stop face 43 engages stub 13 e at its proximal end,locking tab 44 is mated with recess 13 d on stub 13 c. When properlymated, protective sleeve 40 can be rotated about its longitudinal axisL-L′ as depicted in FIG. 5. FIG. 7B depicts protective sleeve 40 atfirst end “FE” or a distal end of the sleeve. Retention collar 48secures the sheathed optical fiber as described above. Main body portion41 of protective sleeve 40 has channel 45 along its longitudinal axisL-L′ (FIG. 5). Channel 45 retains the plural of optical fibers andsplice area 32. Stop face 43 is described above. Retention flange 42 isaccepted into guide opening 13 e as described above and provides supportfor the proximal end of sleeve 40.

FIGS. 8A-8C show splicing two optical fibers and deploying protectivesleeve 40. Referring to FIG. 8A, ferrule flange assembly 11 with opticalfiber pigtail 33 is spliced 32 (at FIG. 8B) to incoming optical fiberwithin optical fiber sheath 30. FIG. 8C shows protective sleeve 40secured to a distal end of ferrule flange assembly 11.

An ordinarily skilled person in the art can appreciate that by followingthe principal of the present invention, a version of the adapter formating a multi-fiber optic ferrule connector with another multi-fiberoptic ferrule connector can be derived without departing from the scopeand spirit of the invention. Although the embodiments of the presentinvention described herein are related to multi-fiber opticapplications, the present invention can be adapted to single fiber opticapplications. Specific details may be omitted so as not to obscure theinvention; however, the disclosure is written to enable one skilled inthe art to practice the teachings herein without undue experimentation.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been provided forthe purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.Many modifications and variations will be apparent to the practitionerskilled in the art.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical application, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with various modifications that are suited tothe particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective sleeve for protecting a fiber splicepoint, comprising: a main body portion having an open channel on oneside of the protective sleeve along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve; afirst end of the protective sleeve with a retention collar configured tosecure a first optical fiber; a second end further comprising aretention flange having a locking tab; and wherein the locking tabsecures the protective sleeve to a ferrule flange retention stub.
 2. Theprotective sleeve of claim 1, wherein the protective sleeve has achamfered guide surface for aiding in the insertion of the protectivesleeve within a circumferential guide opening configured to connect theprotective sleeve with a ferrule assembly within a first connector. 3.The protective sleeve of claim 1, wherein the first end furthercomprises a retention collar sized to secure a sheathed optical fibercontaining the first optical fiber.
 4. The protective sleeve of claim 1,wherein a pigtail fiber of a ferrule is spliced to the first opticalfiber of a sheathed optic fiber.
 5. The protective sheath of claim 1,wherein the ferrule flange retention stub further comprises a recessthat accepts the locking tab to secure the protective sleeve to theferrule flange retention stub.
 6. The protective sleeve of claim 5,wherein the ferrule flange retention stub is at a distal of a ferrulelocking flange forming a ferrule flange assembly that is secured withina connector housing using the ferrule locking flange.
 7. The protectivesleeve of claim 5, wherein the protective sleeve may be rotated aboutthe longitudinal axis of the protective sleeve.
 8. The protective sleeveof claim 6, wherein a bias spring is positioned about the protectivesleeve on a distal side of the ferrule locking flange, and furtherwherein the spring biases the ferrule flange assembly forward duringuse.
 9. The protective sleeve of claim 5, wherein the second end furthercomprises an inner stop face that stops the travel of the protectivesleeve onto the ferrule flange retention stub so the locking tab willmate with the ferrule flange retention stub recess.
 10. A ferrule flangeassembly, comprising: a ferrule locking flange for securing the ferruleflange assembly within a fiber optic connector housing; a ferrule at aproximal end of the ferrule locking flange, the ferrule has at least oneoptical fiber pigtail protruding from a distal end of the ferrule flangeassembly; an inner flange and a flange retention stub concentric witheach other and forming a circumferential opening therebetween at thedistal end of the ferrule locking flange; the circumferential guideopening accepts a second end of a protective sleeve; and wherein theprotective sleeve protects a fiber splice section formed by splicing theoptical fiber pigtail and an optical fiber provided from a first end ofthe protective sleeve.
 11. The ferrule flange assembly of claim 10,wherein the splice is formed using selected from at least one of heat,fusion, mechanical, or chemical.